Students tend to have very specific needs when they are out looking for a laptop. They want something that will not only assist them in their studies but also help them when they need to cool off with a bit of entertainment. At the same time, the laptop should still offer enough performance to ensure versatility to take on a range of tasks while also being portable enough to carry around easily in a backpack.
With such varied needs, it’s no wonder that the best option for most students just might be a laptop powered by an AMD RyzenTM 5000 Series processor. These processors offer up to eight cores and 16 threads of performance, while still being an ideal fit for ultra-thin laptops. As such, students can get the performance they need, and not compromise on the compact form factor.
A lot of the performance gains AMD RyzenTM 5000 series processors offer have been made possible thanks to the new Zen 3 architecture. AMD notes that while Zen 3 is also based on the 7nm node, this new architecture presents the most comprehensive overhaul of the current ‘Zen’ era. This includes greater instructions per clock, which in turn results in greater single-core performance. Not only that, but this increase in performance does not come at the cost of increased power. As such, users can enjoy better performance, without sacrificing battery life.
As if that wasn’t enough, the new Zen 3 architecture also comes with a new “Unified Complex” design that can offer up to eight cores and 32MB of L3 cache into a single group of resources. This drastically reduces core-to-core and core-to-cache latencies. This greatly helps with latency-sensitive tasks, such as gaming.
Finally, there is the Integrated Graphics Processing Unit. The AMD RyzenTM 5000 Series processors come with Radeon Graphics. These IGPUs offer impressive performance and should be more than enough for light photo or video editing, and also for casual gaming.
So which laptop should you buy? Let’s take a quick look at some options.
The HP Pavilion Laptop 14 is a pretty cool option for anyone looking for a compact laptop that offers impressive entertainment options. The first thing anyone will notice is the compact 14-inch FHD panel with the micro-edge screen. The slim bezels allow for greater immersion when watching videos. But great video is only half the story, the laptop also comes with audio by Bang & Olufsen. What’s there to complain about?
The Asus VivoBook K15 OLED comes with a reasonably large 15.6-inch FHD panel. However, what really sets this laptop apart is the fact that it packs an OLED panel in lieu of a traditional LCD one. As such, users can expect much more vibrant colours as well as much deeper blacks as compared to LCD panels. Further, Asus notes that the panel covers 100% of the PCI-P3 colour gamut. This is particularly useful for those studying photography or videography as they will be able to see colours more accurately on their laptop. As if all this was not enough, the OLED panel also emits 70% lower harmful blue light levels. This helps to lessen eye strain and improve sleep quality.
If you want a laptop that does pretty much everything you want but does not burn a hole in your pocket, then the Lenovo Ideapad 3 might be just what the doctor ordered. For starters, the RyzenTM 5 5500U-powered laptop comes with integrated Radeon graphics, which is fine for most students and should allow for some light photo or video editing, as well as some casual gaming. You also get a reasonably large 15.6-inch FHD display that offers a balance between portability and a big-screen experience. Finally, you also get support for rapid charging. Just what you need when you are low on battery and late for class.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5425 is a pretty interesting option for those students looking for an extra bit of performance. At the heart of this laptop is an AMD RyzenTM 5 5625U processor, which is more powerful as compared to the earlier mentioned laptops that pack a RyzenTM 5500U. On top of this, the laptop is also a great choice for online classes. That’s because the laptop packs a 1080p web camera as well as dual-array microphones for a better video calling experience.
If you are the type of student who is constantly on the go, then you would need a laptop like the Acer Swift 3. This laptop sports a compact 14-inch FHD display that’s packed inside a chassis that’s 15.95mm thick and weighs 1.25kg. But there is more to this laptop than that. For starters, the display of the laptop covers 100% of the sRGB colour gamut, making it a great choice for photo and videographers who are almost constantly out on the field.
If you are more inclined towards the creative arts, then the Asus VivoBook Flip14 might be just what you need. The 360-degree hinge means that you can flip the 14-inch FHD display all the way around, allowing it to be used as a tablet. When you really want to push it, you can press the Fn+F key combo to switch between performance, Whisper and Balanced modes.
If it’s all about the style, then check out the MSI Modern 14. As the name would suggest, the laptop follows a slim, modern and minimalist aesthetic. The aluminium chassis not only adds to the classy looks of the device, but it weighs 1.3kg and measures between 16.9mm and 18.1mm in thickness. However, this isn't a fragile beauty as MSI claims that the laptop meets the MIL-STD-810G military standard for reliability and durability
Gaming laptops are usually frowned upon in academic institutions, but the understated looks of the HP Victus should allow you to fly under the radar. Aside from the powerful RyzenTM 5000 series processor, it also comes with a dedicated GPU for gaming. But the extra performance isn’t just handy for gaming as it is quite useful for video and photo editing.
The Lenovo Ideapad Slim 5 Pro lives up to the ‘pro’ moniker in its name by offering students pretty much all they would need. The QHD resolution of the laptop covers 100% of the sRGB colour gamut, which makes it an excellent choice for photo and videos editing. You also get Dolby Atmos audio for a top-notch multimedia experience. Other features of the laptop includes fast charging, and an IR camera for a zero-touch login experience.
That was a look at some of the best AMD-powered laptops that students. As you can see, no matter which subject you would be studying, these laptops are definitely something that would be suited for your needs.
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